Martyn Woolford’s early goal saw Millwall earn victory over Fulham at the Cottage.

The midfielder met Ricardo Fuller’s cross in the 12th minute and volleyed home to score what proved to be the only goal of the game as Fulham slipped to defeat in their first home encounter of the new Championship season.

The Whites saw a string of chances go begging, with David Forde equal to shots from Thomas Eisfeld, Cameron Burgess, Hugo Rodallega, Ross McCormack and Patrick Roberts. When he was beaten by a Rodallega shot just after the hour mark, Alan Dunne was there to clear off the line.

The result leaves Fulham without a point from their first two games of the 2014/15 campaign.

Fulham boss Felix Magath made four changes to the side that lost to Ipswich Town last weekend. Shaun Hutchinson, Chris David, Moussa Dembélé and McCormack made way, with Eisfeld, Lasse Vigen Christensen, George Williams and Rodallega coming in. It was Williams’ Fulham debut.

The game began at a frantic pace, Eisfeld forced Forde into a good save with a low shot from the edge of the box in the fourth minute, with Williams lashing wide after Millwall had failed to clear the danger.

In the 12th minute, Fulham went from almost going in front to falling behind in the space of 20 seconds. A quick breakaway had seen Williams’ shot blocked bravely by Dunne, before the Lions went straight down the other end and took the lead. Fuller got down the left and his cross flicked off the head of Scott Parker and into the path of Woolford who volleyed home.

A whipped-in corner by Kostas Stafylidis was almost met by Nikolay Bodurov in the 24th minute. The ball came back out to Stafylidis whose delivery was just too high for Burgess.

Fulham were knocking at the door but the Millwall defence and Forde continued to stand firm. And it was Millwall who almost increased their lead in the 36th minute. Lee Martin’s free-kick from the right was only cleared as far as Scott Malone on the edge of the area. The left-back controlled the ball on his chest before hitting a dipping volley that Joronen did well to tip over the bar.

At the other end three minutes later, Stafylidis’ corner was nodded away but Bodurov sent it back into the mix where Burgess’ header towards goal was palmed behind by Forde.

With nothing on, Parker then tried his luck from distance with his long-range effort flashing a couple of yards over the crossbar.

Magath made a change at the break, with Christensen making way for McCormack. It was the Scotland international’s home debut for the Whites. Tim Hoogland was booked early on in the second half after taking exception to Malone’s shoulder-barge that sent him over the advertising hoardings in front of the Hammersmith End.

Forde then made a decent stop from Rodallega in the 48th minute after the Colombian had been slipped into space by McCormack.

The right leg of Joronen prevented Malone from making it 2-0 on 56. The left-back was played in behind Hoogland but Joronen narrowed the angle and turned the shot around the post.

At the other end, Forde again came to Millwall’s rescue, saving from McCormack after Parker’s slide-rule pass had sent the striker scampering into the box. Eisfeld was then substituted for Patrick Roberts as Magath made a second change.

Dunne kept Millwall in front on 63, clearing Rodallega’s shot off the line after the forward had turned and scuffed an effort towards goal. Rodallega had been found by Williams who had controlled a Parker pass and beaten Carlos Edwards near the left-hand byline. Bodurov was then booked for a foul on Scott McDonald.

The introductions of McCormack and Roberts had galvanised Fulham, with the latter’s twinkle-toed runs causing Millwall problems. One such run in the 73rd minute saw him glide past three players but his shot was pushed behind by Forde.

Stafylidis was shown a yellow card for lunge on Martin, before Fulham made a final change, with David coming on for Williams.

Hoogland saw a fierce drive blocked in the 79th minute as the Whites swarmed forward. Millwall got deeper and deeper as the clock ticked down, but could have made sure of victory in the 89th minute when substitute Magaye Gueye raced clear but his left-footed effort saved by Joronen.